Renowned televangelist and founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has sparked renewed debate within Christian circles after a recent sermon in which he strongly criticized the growing trend of men wearing earrings. The message, delivered during a Sunday service and now circulating on YouTube, tied the modern fashion choice to biblical symbolism rooted in ancient Israelite customs.
In the video, Pastor Ibiyeomie did not hold back as he addressed the practice, especially among young people, footballers, and celebrities, describing it as a reflection of spiritual ignorance and a deviation from its original significance in Scripture.
“Do you know it’s a sign of a release from slavery?” the Port Harcourt-based pastor asked rhetorically, urging listeners to revisit their Bibles for context. “When a slave is released in the seventh year, the first sign they do is to bore the man’s ear and put a ring,” he said, referencing Old Testament traditions.
He went on to explain that in ancient Israel, a freed slave who chose to remain in his master’s household had his ear pierced as a sign of that decision. According to Pastor Ibiyeomie, this act of piercing carried serious meaning—not fashion, but freedom.
“That’s a sign. When a slave is released in Israel, they now open the ear and put an earring to say this man is no longer a slave,” he emphasized. “So a man wearing an earring is simply saying, ‘I am an ex-slave.’”
The pastor then shifted focus to today’s popular culture, criticizing what he views as an uncritical embrace of Western trends, particularly among celebrities and athletes. He lamented that modern men wear earrings without understanding the spiritual and historical roots of the practice.
“But now we are doing as guy. We doing as what?” he asked, mimicking youthful slang and postures. “You see footballers—we are here, we are here.”
Using exaggerated gestures, he further illustrated his point with sarcasm: “So we even open eight [holes] from here to here. You see ‘gary gary gary gary gary.’”
The message, though humorous in delivery, carried a serious tone. Pastor Ibiyeomie called for discernment among Christians, urging them not to blindly follow cultural trends without biblical understanding. He challenged the church to reconsider modern expressions of identity that may carry unintended spiritual meanings.
This is not the first time Pastor Ibiyeomie has stirred public attention with his direct messages on lifestyle choices. Known for his unapologetic stance on moral and spiritual matters, he remains a significant voice in Nigeria’s Pentecostal movement.
The sermon has sparked mixed reactions online, with some praising the pastor’s boldness while others question the relevance of linking ancient Hebrew practices to contemporary fashion.
Nevertheless, the message resonates with his broader theological outlook: that believers must look beyond appearances and cultural fads, and instead, ground their choices in Scripture and spiritual awareness.
